Surgical portal with rotating seal

ABSTRACT

A surgical portal apparatus includes a portal housing, a portal sleeve, and a seal. The portal housing defines a central housing axis and a central housing channel. The portal sleeve extends from the portal housing and is dimensioned to pass through tissue to provide access to underlying tissue via a longitudinal opening. The central housing channel of the portal housing and the longitudinal opening of the portal sleeve define a passageway for reception and passage of a surgical object. The seal has inner surfaces defining a seal passage for establishing a general sealed relation about the surgical object. The seal passage is radially offset with respect to the central housing axis. The seal is adapted to rotate about the central housing axis to vary positioning of the seal passage to substantially maintain the substantial sealed relation upon manipulation of the surgical object within the portal housing.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application is a divisional application of U.S. applicationSer. No. 12/961,531, filed on Dec. 7, 2010, which claims the benefit ofand priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/287,829, filedon Dec. 18, 2009, the entire contents of which are incorporated hereinby reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Disclosure

The present disclosure relates to surgical devices and, moreparticularly, relates to a surgical portal apparatus incorporating arotating seal adapted for use during a minimally invasive surgicalprocedure.

2. Description of the Related Art

Minimally invasive surgical procedures, including endoscopic,arthroscopic, and laparoscopic procedures, permit surgery to beperformed on organs, tissues, and vessels far removed from an openingwithin the tissue. These procedures generally require that anyinstrumentation inserted into the body be sealed, e.g., provisions maybe made to ensure that gases do not enter or exit the body through theincision as, for example, in surgical procedures utilizing insufflatingor irrigating fluids. These procedures typically employ surgicalinstruments which are introduced into the body through a cannula. Thecannula has a seal assembly associated therewith. The seal assembly isintended to form a substantially fluid tight seal about the instrumentto preserve the integrity of the established surgical site.

Seals may be limited by their ability to sustain a seal when it is movedoff-axis relative to a central axis of a cannula. Seals may also belimited by their ability to sustain their integrity when an insertedsurgical instrument is angulated. Such motions can create a “cat eye” orcrescent shaped gap in the seal that can result in a loss of sealintegrity. Additional problems include the flexibility of the seal inmaintaining its integrity when both small diameter and large diametersurgical instruments are used.

SUMMARY

Accordingly, a surgical portal apparatus includes a portal housing, aportal sleeve, and a seal. The portal housing defines a central housingaxis and a central housing channel. The portal sleeve extends from theportal housing and is dimensioned to pass through tissue to provideaccess to underlying tissue via a longitudinal opening. The centralhousing channel of the portal housing and the longitudinal opening ofthe portal sleeve define a passageway for reception and passage of asurgical object. The seal has inner surfaces defining a seal passage forestablishing a general sealed relation about the surgical object. Theseal passage is radially offset with respect to the central housingaxis. The seal is adapted to rotate about the central housing axis tovary positioning of the seal passage to substantially maintain thesubstantial sealed relation upon manipulation of the surgical objectwithin the portal housing.

A ball bearing assembly is mounted within the portal housing and isoperably coupled to the seal to permit rotational movement of the sealabout the seal axis. The ball bearing assembly includes a fixed ring, arotating ring, and at least two ball bearings disposed within a trackformed by the rings. The rotating ring is in communication with the sealso that the seal passage of the seal rotates about the central housingaxis. In embodiments, the fixed ring of the ball bearing assembly is anouter ring affixed to the portal housing and the rotating ring is aninner ring that freely rotates radially with the ball bearings. In otherembodiments, the fixed ring is a distal ring affixed to the portalhousing and the rotating ring is a proximal ring that freely rotatesradially over the ball bearings.

The portal apparatus may include a manually engageable actuatoroperatively coupled to the seal and extending from the portal housing.The actuator is movable to cause corresponding rotational movement ofthe seal about the central housing axis.

In embodiments the seal is substantially planar and defines an aperture,the aperture being the seal passage. The seal may be substantiallyorthogonal to the central housing axis or may be substantially obliquelyarranged with respect to the central housing axis. In other embodiments,the seal defines a general funneled profile, such as an oblique circularcone, having an aperture, the aperture being the seal passage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the present disclosure will be better appreciated byreference to the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portal apparatus in the form of a sealassembly and a sleeve in accordance with the principles of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view, with parts separated, of the seal assemblyand the sleeve of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side cross-sectional view of the portal apparatus of FIGS. 1and 2;

FIG. 4 is a side cross-sectional view of the portal apparatus of FIG. 1with an alternative ball bearing assembly arrangement;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the seal assembly depictedin FIG. 3 with an instrument inserted therethrough;

FIG. 6 is a side cross-sectional view of FIG. 5 with the instrumentrotated therein;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of a portalapparatus in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view, with parts separated, of the seal assemblyand the sleeve of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a perspective cross-sectional view of the portal apparatus ofFIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a side cross-sectional view of the portal apparatus of FIG. 7taken along line 10-10 of FIG. 9 with an instrument insertedtherethrough;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a seal in accordance with the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 12 is a side-cross-sectional view of the portal apparatus of FIG. 7utilizing the seal of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a side cross-sectional view of the portal apparatus of FIG.12 having an instrument inserted therethrough;

FIG. 14 is a perspective of an alternate embodiment of a portalapparatus in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view, with parts separated, of the sealassembly and the sleeve of FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a perspective cross-sectional view of the portal apparatus ofFIG. 14;

FIG. 17 is a side cross-sectional view of the portal apparatus of FIG.14 taken along line 17-17 of FIG. 16;

FIG. 18 is a top view of the portal apparatus of FIG. 14 taken alongline 18-18 of FIG. 17; and

FIG. 19 is a side cross-sectional view of the portal apparatus of FIG.14 with an instrument inserted therethrough.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The portal apparatus of the present disclosure incorporates a sealassembly either alone or in combination with a sleeve for introductioninto a body cavity of a patient. The portal apparatus is adapted forreceiving objects therethrough. The seal assembly incorporates a sealwhich, either alone or in combination with a valve, provides asubstantial seal between a body cavity of a patient and the outsideatmosphere before, during, and after insertion of an object through theportal assembly. The seal assembly includes a ball bearing assembly forrotating the seal, and thus objects inserted therethrough, to differentpositions without compromising the integrity of the seal.

The seal assembly contemplates the introduction and manipulation ofvarious types of instrumentation adapted for insertion through a trocar,cannula, or other portal assembly. A fluid tight interface is maintainedvia the seal about the inserted instrumentation. This substantiallyprevents gas and/or liquid leakage from the established surgical site soas to preserve the atmospheric integrity of a surgical procedure.

The seal is capable of accommodating objects of varying diameters, e.g.,instruments from about 3 mm to about 18 mm, by providing a fluid tightseal with each object when inserted. The flexibility of the seal greatlyfacilitates endoscopic surgery where a variety of instruments havingdiffering diameters are often needed during a single surgical procedure.Examples of surgical instrumentation which may be introduced through theportal apparatus include clip appliers, graspers, dissectors,retractors, staplers, laser probes, photographic devices, endoscopes,laparoscopes, arthroscopes, tubes, electrosurgical cutting, coagulating,and ablation devices, and other tools within the purview of thoseskilled in the art. Such instruments will be collectively referred toherein as “instruments” or “instrumentation.”

Embodiments of the presently disclosed surgical portal apparatus willnow be described in detail with reference to the drawing figures whereinlike reference numerals identify similar or identical elements. As usedherein and as is traditional, the term “distal” refers to that portionwhich is furthest from the user while the term “proximal” refers to thatportion which is closest to the user.

Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a portal apparatus 10of the present disclosure incorporating seal assembly 12 mounted toportal sleeve 14. In embodiments, the portal apparatus 10 isparticularly adapted for use in laparoscopic surgery where theperitoneal cavity is insufflated with a suitable gas, e.g., CO₂, toraise the cavity wall from the internal organs therein. The sleeve 14 istypically used with an obturator assembly (not shown) which may be ablunt, non-bladed, or sharp pointed instrument positionable within thepassageway of the sleeve 14. The obturator assembly is utilized topenetrate a body wall or introduce the sleeve 14 through the body wall,and then subsequently is removed from the sleeve 14 to permitintroduction of surgical instrumentation 16 utilized to perform theprocedure through the passageway and body wall. Instrument 16 is shownrotating in phantom within seal assembly 12 and sleeve 14.

Seal housing 70 and end cap 20 define a portal housing 78 for housingthe components of the seal assembly 12 as will be discussed. Portalhousing 78 define a central housing axis “t” extending along the lengthof the seal assembly 12 and mounted sleeve 14 such that a centralhousing channel 79 of the portal housing 78 is in general alignment withpassageway 92 of sleeve 14 for passage of surgical instruments 16 tounderlying tissue.

With reference now to FIGS. 2-3, in conjunction with FIG. 1, anembodiment of a portal apparatus 10 of the present disclosure will bediscussed. Portal apparatus 10 includes seal assembly 12 which includesend cap 20, instrument seal 30, attachment plate 40, ball bearingassembly 50, and seal housing 70. Sleeve 14 is detachably mountable toseal housing 70 of seal assembly 12 and duck bill valve 80 mayoptionally be configured to be in mechanical cooperation with both theseal assembly 12 and the sleeve 14.

End cap 20 is generally tubular in shape and includes a proximal endportion 22 and a distal end portion 24. An opening 26 is defined withinproximal end portion 22 and is aligned with central housing axis “t” forreceiving a surgical instrument. Opening 26 has a sufficient diameter topermit passage of relatively large sized instruments into centralhousing channel 79. End cap 20 may be removably coupled with sealhousing 70 of seal assembly 12.

Instrument seal 30 is disposed distal to end cap 20 and may be anyconventional type of seal as within the purview of those skilled in theart. Instrument seal 30 may be formed from a single material orcombinations thereof. Instrument seal 30 may be fabricated from asuitable biocompatible relatively rigid material such as polypropylene,nylon, ABS, polycarbonate, stainless steel, titanium or any othersuitable material. Instrument seal 30 may also be composed of fabric,elastomers, foam, combinations thereof, or combinations with othermaterials.

Instrument seal 30 is generally disc-shaped and defines an aperture,slit, or other seal passage 32 for reception and passage of surgicalobject or instrument 16. Seal passage 32 is configured to form afluid-tight fit with surgical instrument 16. Seal passage 32 is off-setfrom the longitudinal mid-point of axis “t” such that it is off-axis andmay rotate radially around central housing axis “t” while maintaining asubstantially sealed relation with an inserted surgical instrument aswill be discussed.

Instrument seal 30 is releasably couplable to a proximal surface ofattachment plate 40 via joining members 34. The joining members 34 maybe mechanically couplable to complementary joining members 44 onattachment plate 40 as illustrated in the current embodiment by way apin 34 and slot 44 arrangement. Instrument seal 30 may be releasablysecured or connected to attachment plate 40 by other conventionalmechanical means including, for example, other male/female fasteners,bayonet couplings, threaded connections, snap fit, friction fit, tongueand groove arrangements, and cam-lock mechanisms. Instrument seal 30 maybe chemically couplable to attachment plate 40 via use of adhesives orpermanently couplable via ultrasonic welding or the like. Alternatively,instrument seal 30 may have no mating members but be frictionallyengaged with attachment plate 40.

Attachment plate 40 is an annular plate including central opening 42which is substantially aligned with opening 26 of end cap 20 and has adiameter of a sufficient size to accommodate the off-set and rotatableseal passage 32 of the instrument seal 30 in order to maintain thepassageway for a surgical instrument. Attachment plate 40 includesmating features on both proximal and distal surfaces. Joining members 44to instrument seal 30 are disposed on the proximal surface and means forcoupling to ball bearing assembly 50 are disposed on the distal surface.Attachment plate 40 may be coupled to ball bearing assembly 50 by any ofthe means, such as those discussed above with respect to instrument seal30.

Ball bearing assembly 50 includes two concentric rings including fixedring 52 and rotating ring 54 defining opening 56 along longitudinal axis“t.” Fixed ring 52 and rotating ring 54 each include a recess 58, 60respectively, defined in facing walls 62, 64 to form track 66 for ballbearings 68. In the current embodiment, fixed ring 52 is an outer ringin communication with and attached to the seal housing 70 and rotatingring 54 is an inner ring operably connected to attachment plate 40 andthus seal 30 for free rotation of the seal 30. Other orientations areenvisioned, such as shown in FIG. 4. FIG. 4 illustrates a stackedconfiguration where fixed ring 52 a is distal to rotating ring 54 a.Fixed ring 52 a is attached to seal housing 70 and rotating ring 154 isfree to rotate.

At least two ball bearings 68 are disposed between fixed and rotatingrings 52, 54. Ball bearings 68 may be freely disposed within track 66 totravel around track 66 and radially rotate about the longitudinal axis“t,” as well as spin about themselves. Ball bearings 68 may be heldconstant by a ball bearing holder (not shown) within track 66 so thatthe ball bearings 68 may only spin, for example, in an internal ringsuch as in thrust, rolling, or ball and groove bearing assembly.Alternatively, fixed ring 52 may include the ball bearing holders sothat an area of the ball bearings 68 is exposed for contact withrotating ring 54.

Ball bearings 68 may be formed from metals, such as stainless steel,iron, and aluminum, as well as polymers, ceramics, and other rigidmaterials capable of supporting the rotating ring and permitting freerotation thereof with minimum friction. Ball bearings 68 may bespherical, ovoid, or other shapes which reduces the rotational frictionof the rotating ring. In embodiments, a lubricant, such as grease, maybe utilized to assist with smooth rotational movement of seal 30.

Seal housing 70 houses the components of the seal assembly 12 and alsoincludes sleeve mounting collar 72 for joining the seal assembly 12 withsleeve 14. An annular septum 74 separates the sleeve mounting collar 72from the rest of the components of the seal assembly 12. Sleeve mountingcollar 72 may be selectively releasably connectable to sleeve 14 tocooperatively releasably couple seal assembly 12 to sleeve 14. Variousmeans for releasably securing or connecting sleeve mounting collar 72 toproximal end 94 of sleeve 14 are envisioned including a bayonetcoupling, snap-fit, frictional fit, tongue and groove arrangement,threaded arrangement, cam-lock mechanisms or the like. As illustrated inthe current embodiment, sleeve mounting collar 72 is secured to sleeve14 via friction fit. Seal assembly 12 may be mounted to sleeve 14before, during, or after, application of sleeve 14 within the operativesite. Alternatively, seal assembly 12 may be permanently secured tosleeve 14 by conventions means, such as for example, ultrasonic welding,use of adhesives, or by monolithically forming seal housing 70 withsleeve 14.

Optionally, a valve 80 may be disposed between seal housing 12 andsleeve 14. Annular septum 74 of seal housing 70 may include a notch 76for securing valve 80 and sleeve 14 may include a channel 90 in proximalend 94 in which lip 82 of valve 80 may be seated. Valve 80 may be azero-closure valve such as a duck-bill valve having a slit 84 which isadapted to close in the absence of a surgical object and/or in responseto insufflation gases of the pressurized cavity. In the alternative,valve 80 may be a gel seal, balloon valve, or a flapper valve. Valve 80may be fabricated from a relatively rigid material such as medical gradestainless steel or a biocompatible polymeric material. Valve 80 may alsobe formed from a flexible material such as a fabric, foam, orelastomeric material in order to bend or deform about an insertedinstrument while absorbing off-axis motion. Further, valve 80 canminimize formation or gaps around an inserted instrument and preventsfluid or debris from entering seal assembly 12 when the valve 80 isclosed. Fluid pressure on valve 80 will close slit 84 thereby sealingseal assembly 12 from fluids. When an instrument is inserted throughvalve 80, however, a seal is not always formed around the instrumentthereby allowing some fluid to enter seal housing 70 wherein seal 30prevents the fluid from exiting seal assembly 12.

Sleeve 14 may be any portal member suitable for the intended purpose ofaccessing a body cavity and typically defines a passageway 92 permittingintroduction of instruments 16 therethrough. Sleeve 14 has proximal (orleading) and distal (or trailing) ends 94, 96. Sleeve 14 may be formedof any suitable medical grade material, such as metal materials likestainless steel, titanium, and aluminum; polymeric materials likeacrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene, polycarbonate, and polystyrene; andother rigid materials and combinations thereof as envisioned by oneskilled in the art.

Sleeve 14 may be transparent, translucent, or opaque. The diameter ofsleeve 14 may vary, but, typically ranges from about 3 to about 18 mm.Sleeve 14 may or may not include means for facilitating retention of thesleeve 14 within tissue. Such means include a plurality of lockingelements, ribs, or other locking arrangements within the purview ofthose skilled in the art.

The assembly of portal apparatus 10 will now be discussed. Attachmentplate 40 is secured to rotating ring 54 of ball bearing assembly 50 aswell as seal 30. The joined components are advanced within seal housing70. Fixed ring 52 may be affixed to seal housing 70 and end cap 30 maybe secured thereon. Assembled seal assembly 12 may then be secured tosleeve 14 as discussed above, optionally with valve 80 securedtherebetween.

In use, as illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, instrument 16 is advanceddistally through opening 26 of end cap 20 through seal passage 32 ofseal 30, opening 42 of attachment plate 40, opening 56 of ball bearingassembly 50, through annular septum 74 of seal housing 70, slit 84 ofvalve 80, and passageway 92 of sleeve 14. The desired surgical task isperformed with instrument 16. Instrument 16 may be re-positioned duringthe surgical procedure by rotating the instrument 16 about the centralhousing axis “t” thereby rotating the rotating ring 54 which contactsand spins ball bearings 68. Free rotation of ball bearings 68 reducesrotational friction and allows smooth movement and rotation of seal 30and thus instrument 16.

Alternatively, as depicted in FIG. 7, the portal apparatus may contain afeature that allows rotation of the instrument about axis “t” withouthaving to manually turn the instrument itself. FIGS. 8-10, inconjunction with FIG. 7, illustrate another embodiment of the presentlydescribed portal apparatus 110. Portal apparatus 110 includes sealassembly 112 and portal sleeve 114. Like components are similarlynumbered as those illustrated in FIGS. 1-6. Seal assembly 112 includes amanually engageable actuator 128 disposed between end cap 120 and seal130. Actuator 128 may be any mechanical device, such as a knob, dial, orlever which a user may move to rotate surgical instrument 114. Actuator128 includes an upper portion 121 for placement through opening 126 ofend cap 120 such that it extends from portal housing 178 for gripping bythe user and a lower portion 123 for contacting seal 130. Upper portion121 includes a central aperture 125 for passing surgical instruments.Lower portion 123 may include a lip 127, or other joining means, forretaining seal 130. Accordingly, manual rotation of upper portion 121 ofactuator 128 will cause corresponding rotational movement of seal 130thereby rotating instrument 116 passed therethrough about axis “t.”

Additionally, attachment plate 140 may include a lower collar 146 to aidin proper alignment of attachment plate 140 with rotating ring 154 ofball bearing assembly 150. Alternatively, lower collar 146 may alsoprovide a friction fit with rotating ring 154 thereby obviating the needfor a mechanical or chemical attachment as described above.

As illustrated in the current embodiments, seal 130 is flat or planar.It is envisioned that the seal may define different shapes having anoff-set opening, such as that shown in FIG. 11, for sealing andmaintaining the integrity of the established surgical site. FIGS. 11-13illustrates seal 230 defining a generally tapered or funneled conicalprofile in the form of an oblique circular cone whereby the inner areaof the seal 230 slopes at an oblique angle with respect to the centralhousing axis “t” to define aperture 232 which is off-axis from axis “t.”The funneled characteristic may assist in guiding the instrument towardaperture 232 during initial introduction of the instrument or object andmay substantially minimize the potential of inversion of seal 230 duringwithdrawal of the instrument. The conical seal may also flex in additionto rotate thereby allowing some additional off-axis motion asillustrated by the arrows in FIG. 13.

Seal 130 of FIGS. 7-10 is also illustrated as being substantiallyorthogonal to the central housing axis “t.” In embodiments, however, theseal may be angulated and substantially obliquely arranged with respectto the central housing axis “t.” FIGS. 14-19 illustrate anotherembodiment of the presently described portal apparatus 310. Portalapparatus 310 includes seal assembly 312 and portal sleeve 314, withlike components similarly numbered as the previous figures. Seal 330 maybe positioned between and in contact with end cap 320 and attachmentplate 340. Both the end cap 320 and the attachment plate 340 include anangulated surface 329, 348 respectively, between which seal 330 may bedisposed at an oblique angle relative to the longitudinal axis “t.”

To use seal assembly 112, 212, 312 and sleeve 114, 214 314 of thepresent disclosure in connection with the performance of a surgical taskduring a laparoscopic procedure, the peritoneal cavity is insufflated toestablish the pneumoperitonum. Seal assembly 112 is mounted to sleeve114 as discussed hereinabove. The assembled portal system 110 isintroduced into an insufflated abdominal cavity typically utilizing asharp or non-blade trocar obturator to access the cavity and theobturator is removed. An instrument 116 may be advanced through portalsystem 110 by inserting the instrument 116 into the seal assembly 112via the openings defined by the actuator 128, end cap 120, seal 130,attachment plate 140, ball bearing assembly 150, and seal housing 170.The instrument 116 is then distally passed through sleeve 114 and intothe body cavity. During performance of a surgical task, the instrument116 may be manipulated and re-positioned by rotating either theinstrument 116 or the actuator 128 about the longitudinal axis “t.”Rotation of the instrument 116 or knob 128 rotates seal 130, attachedattachment plate 140, and rotating ring 154 of ball bearing assembly150. Radial movement of rotating ring 154 of the ball bearing assembly150 spins ball bearings 168. Movement and rotation of the ball bearings168 reduces the rotational friction on the rotating ring 154 and allowssmooth movement and rotation of seal 130 and thus instrument 116.

It will be understood that various modifications and changes in form anddetail may be made to the embodiments of the present disclosure withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, theabove description should not be construed as limiting but merely asexemplifications of embodiments of the present disclosure. Those skilledin the art will envision other modifications within the scope and spiritof the present disclosure as defined by the claims appended hereto.

What is claimed is:
 1. A surgical portal apparatus, which comprises: aportal housing having a housing channel; a portal sleeve extending fromthe portal housing and defining proximal and distal ends, the portalsleeve dimensioned to pass through tissue to provide access tounderlying tissue and having a longitudinal opening, the housing channelof the portal housing and the longitudinal opening of the portal sleevedefining a central longitudinal axis and a longitudinal passageway forreception and passage of a surgical object; a seal having inner surfacesdefining a seal passage for establishing a general sealed relation aboutthe surgical object, the seal passage being radially offset with respectto the central longitudinal axis, the seal being adapted to rotate aboutthe central longitudinal axis to vary positioning of the seal passageradially around the central housing axis to substantially maintain thesubstantial sealed relation upon manipulation of the surgical objectwithin the portal housing; a roller element mounted within the portalhousing and operatively coupled to the seal, the roller elementconfigured and adapted to rotate about the central longitudinal axis tofacilitate rotational movement of the seal about the centrallongitudinal axis; and a manually engageable actuator operatively fixedrelative to the seal and extending external of the portal housing fordirect engagement by a user, the actuator movable by the user to causecorresponding rotational movement of the seal about the centrallongitudinal axis.
 2. The surgical portal apparatus according to claim 1wherein the roller element is rotatable relative to the portal housing.3. The surgical portal apparatus according to claim 2 including aplurality of roller elements mounted within the portal housing andoperatively coupled to the seal, the roller elements each beingrotatable about the central longitudinal axis to facilitate rotationalmovement of the seal about the central longitudinal axis.
 4. Thesurgical portal apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the seal ismounted to a first annular element, the first annular element adapted torotate via the roller elements about the central longitudinal axis. 5.The surgical portal apparatus according to claim 4 including a secondannular element secured to the portal housing, the roller elements beingdisposed between the first and second annular elements.
 6. The surgicalportal apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the first annular elementis disposed radially inward of the second annular element.
 7. Thesurgical portal apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the first annularelement is proximal of the second annular element.
 8. The surgicalportal apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the roller elements arearranged to rotate about the central longitudinal axis uponcorresponding movement of the first annular member.
 9. The surgicalportal apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the roller elements areballs.
 10. The surgical apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the sealis substantially planar and defines an aperture, the aperture being theseal passage.
 11. The surgical apparatus according to claim 1 whereinthe seal is substantially orthogonal to the central longitudinal axis.12. The surgical apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the seal issubstantially obliquely arranged with respect to the centrallongitudinal axis.
 13. The surgical apparatus according to claim 1wherein the seal defines a general funneled profile.
 14. The surgicalapparatus according to claim 1 wherein the seal defines an aperture, theaperture being the seal passage.
 15. The surgical apparatus according toclaim 1 wherein the seal defines an oblique conical section.
 16. Thesurgical apparatus according to claim 1 including a zero-closure valveadapted to substantially close in the absence of the surgical object.17. The surgical portal apparatus according to claim 1 wherein theactuator includes a lower segment operatively coupled to the seal and anupper segment depending outwardly from the portal housing for directengagement by the user.
 18. The surgical portal apparatus according toclaim 1 wherein the actuator is movable by the user independent ofmovement of the surgical object to cause corresponding rotationalmovement of the seal about the central longitudinal axis.
 19. A surgicalportal apparatus, which comprises: a portal housing having a housingchannel; a portal sleeve extending from the portal housing and definingproximal and distal ends, the portal sleeve dimensioned to pass throughtissue to provide access to underlying tissue and having a longitudinalopening, the housing channel of the portal housing and the longitudinalopening of the portal sleeve defining a central longitudinal axis and alongitudinal passageway for reception and passage of a surgical object;a seal having inner surfaces defining a seal passage for establishing ageneral sealed relation about the surgical object, the seal passagebeing radially offset with respect to the central longitudinal axis; anat least partial annular member to which the seal is coupled, the atleast partial annular member being adapted to rotate about the centrallongitudinal axis to cause corresponding rotation of the seal to varyradial positioning of the seal passage relative to the centrallongitudinal axis, the at least partial annular member being fixed fromlongitudinal movement relative to the central longitudinal axis; aplurality of roller elements mounted within the portal housing andoperatively coupled to the at least partial annular member, the rollerelements configured and adapted to rotate about the central longitudinalaxis to facilitate rotational movement of the at least partial annularmember and the seal about the central longitudinal axis; and a manuallyengageable actuator operatively coupled to the at least partial annularmember and having at least a segment extending external of the portalhousing for direct engagement by a user, the actuator movable to causecorresponding rotational movement of the at least partial annular memberand the seal.
 20. The surgical portal apparatus according to claim 19wherein the actuator is movable by the user independent of movement ofthe surgical object to cause corresponding rotational movement of theseal about the central longitudinal axis.
 21. The surgical portalapparatus according to claim 19 wherein the roller elements are balls.22. A surgical portal apparatus, which comprises: a portal housinghaving a housing channel; a portal sleeve extending from the portalhousing and defining proximal and distal ends, the portal sleevedimensioned to pass through tissue to provide access to underlyingtissue and having a longitudinal opening, the housing channel of theportal housing and the longitudinal opening of the portal sleevedefining a central longitudinal axis and a longitudinal passageway forreception and passage of a surgical object; a seal having inner surfacesdefining a seal passage for establishing a general sealed relation aboutthe surgical object, the seal being adapted to rotate about the centrallongitudinal axis upon manipulation of the surgical object within theportal housing; and a roller element mounted within the portal housingand operatively coupled to the seal, the roller element configured andadapted to rotate about the central longitudinal axis to facilitaterotational movement of the seal about the central longitudinal axis. 23.The surgical portal apparatus according to claim 22 wherein the sealpassage of the seal is radially offset with respect to the centrallongitudinal axis such that rotation of the seal about the centrallongitudinal axis varies positioning of the seal passage radially withrespect to the central longitudinal axis.
 24. The surgical portalapparatus according to claim 23 including a manually engageable actuatoroperatively fixed relative to the seal and extending external of theportal housing for direct engagement by a user, the actuator movable bythe user to cause corresponding rotational movement of the seal aboutthe central longitudinal axis.
 25. The surgical portal apparatusaccording to claim 22 wherein the roller element is a ball.
 26. Thesurgical portal apparatus according to claim 25 including a plurality ofballs.